Thai and Cambodian leaders have agreed to renew a ceasefire after days of deadly clashes, Trump says

Trump Brokers Renewed Ceasefire Between Thailand and Cambodia

President Donald Trump announced Friday that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to reinstate a ceasefire following days of deadly border clashes that threatened to unravel earlier peace efforts.

The agreement comes after Trump held calls with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, urging both leaders to end the hostilities that have escalated in recent days.

“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” Trump stated in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The renewed commitment revives the ceasefire initially brokered in July of this year. That agreement was facilitated by Malaysia with significant pressure from Trump, who had threatened to withhold trade privileges from both Southeast Asian nations unless they reached an accord. The agreement was later formalized with more detailed provisions during a regional meeting in Malaysia in October, which Trump attended.

Despite the July agreement, tensions persisted along the border, with both countries engaging in propaganda campaigns and sporadic violence continuing in the contested region.

The current flare-up represents one of the most serious escalations in the long-standing territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. The conflict stems primarily from disagreements over a 1907 map created during Cambodia’s period under French colonial rule. Thailand has consistently maintained that this map inaccurately depicts the border between the two nations.

A 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that granted sovereignty of disputed territories to Cambodia has remained a source of resentment for many Thais. The current conflict centers around these contested areas, including the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site that sits along the disputed border.

In recent days, the conflict has intensified with Thailand deploying jet fighters to conduct airstrikes on what it claims are military targets. Cambodia has responded by utilizing BM-21 rocket launchers, which have a range of 30-40 kilometers (19-25 miles).

The human toll has been significant. According to data collected by Thailand’s public broadcaster ThaiPBS, at least six Thai soldiers have been killed by rocket shrapnel. The Thai army’s northeastern regional command reported Thursday that residential areas and homes near the border sustained damage from Cambodian rocket fire.

Thai forces also reported destroying a tall crane positioned near the Preah Vihear temple, claiming it housed electronic and optical devices being used for military command and control purposes by Cambodian forces.

The renewed ceasefire represents a diplomatic victory for Trump, who highlighted Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s crucial role in helping facilitate the agreement. “It is my Honor to work with Anutin and Hun in resolving what could have evolved into a major War between two otherwise wonderful and prosperous Countries!” Trump added in his social media post.

Regional stability in Southeast Asia is particularly important for global supply chains, as Thailand serves as a manufacturing hub for automotive and electronics industries, while Cambodia has become increasingly significant in textile production. Prolonged conflict between the neighbors would likely disrupt regional trade flows and potentially impact global markets.

The agreement comes at a critical time, as any escalation could further destabilize a region already facing economic challenges from global inflation pressures and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As night falls in Southeast Asia, observers remain cautiously optimistic that the renewed ceasefire will hold, though the decades-old territorial dispute suggests lasting peace may require more comprehensive diplomatic efforts to address the fundamental issues dividing the two nations.